# Messenger vs Zalo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Messenger at 66% against Zalo's 6%. Messenger also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.1) and ratings volume (14M vs 8.5K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Messenger sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Zalo sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Messenger holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Messenger has 14M ratings behind it against 8.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Messenger's written reviews are positive against 6% of Zalo's.

Messenger ships an update weekly, Zalo fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Messenger | Zalo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (14M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411/reviews)** | [2.1 (8.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zalo/id579523206/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14M** | 8.5K |
| Positive reviews | **66.0% of reviews** | 6.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#11** | #166 |
| Size | 277 MB | 278 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Meta Platforms, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284882218) | [Zalo Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/822220029) |

## What reviewers say

### Messenger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/messenger/id454638411)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Free · Social Networking, #139 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through text, audio, and video calls. Share photos in high definition, create shared albums, and send large files. Features an AI assistant for instant answers and creative image generation.

**Highlights:** Text, audio, and video calls, High-definition photo sharing, Shared photo albums, Large file sharing (up to 100MB), AI assistant for questions and creative tasks, Disappearing messages, Customizable chat themes

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Avatar Item | $0.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $1.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $2.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $3.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $4.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $6.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $7.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $8.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $9.99 | one-time |
| Avatar Item | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📱 Useful for staying connected with friends and family
- 🗣️ Enables easy communication through text, voice, and video
- 💬 Convenient group chat features
- 🌐 Works across multiple devices and platforms

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 🔄 Unnecessary updates that remove useful features
- 📤 Issues with message delivery and notifications
- 🗂️ Cluttered interface and poor organization of chats

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in or access account
- Messages failing to send or receive
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to delete or unsend messages
- Improve search functionality for chat history
- Introduce customizable notification settings
- Bring back old features like emoji reactions and location sharing


### Zalo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zalo/id579523206)

**Currently charting:** #166 Top Free · Social Networking (US App Store)

This messaging app offers fast and private communication with friends. Send text, voice, and group messages, share your location, and discover new people nearby. It also allows for in-app games and expressive emoticons.

**Highlights:** Fast messaging with instant notifications, Expressive emoticons and stickers, High-quality voice messaging, Discover and connect with nearby friends, Easy group messaging, In-app games, Location sharing

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| zCloud Mini | $0.99 | per month |
| zStyle - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| zStyle - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| zCloud 100GB Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| zStyle - 6 Months | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| zStyle - Annual | $5.99 | per year |
| zStyle - 12 Months | $6.99 | per year |
| zStyle - 12 Months | $6.99 | per year |
| zCloud Mini | $9.99 | per year |
| Pro 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| zCloud Standard | $22.99 | per year |
| zCloud Standard | $24.99 | per year |
| zCloud Family | $79.99 | per year |
| Pro 12 months | $99.99 | per year |
| Pro 12 months | $99.99 | per year |
| Sticker zStyle - 29K | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sticker zStyle - 9K | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sticker zStyle - 19K | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gift zStyle - 3M | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gift zStyle - 6M | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gift zStyle - 12M | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient messaging
- 🚀 Good call quality
- 💡 Customizable features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔒 Privacy and security concerns
- 🔋 High data and battery usage
- ⚠️ Difficult account recovery

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to receive verification codes
- Inconsistent performance on different devices
- Deleted accounts and lost data
- Unreliable video/audio calls

**Requested features**

- Ability to use on multiple devices simultaneously
- Improved cloud sync and backup
- Better translation and language support
- Option to disable unwanted notifications


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Messenger free?

Messenger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Zalo free?

Zalo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Messenger or Zalo?

Messenger is rated higher. Messenger averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14M ratings, while Zalo averages 2.1 from 8.5K ratings.

### Do Messenger or Zalo have ads?

Both Messenger and Zalo show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Messenger or Zalo?

Messenger ships an update weekly, and Zalo fortnightly. Most recently, Messenger was updated on October 30, 2026 and Zalo on October 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Messenger or Zalo?

Messenger currently peaks at #11 in the App Store charts, and Zalo at #166. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*